Arun

Arun's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census show there were changes in housing tenure, health and work life.

The population reached nearly 150,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Arun increased by 6.2%, from almost 141,000 to 150,000.

The addition of almost 8,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Arun was home to, on average, 4.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in private renting

Census 2011 data also show a housing tenure change in Arun.

The percentage of households in Arun that rented privately increased from 9.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 9.0%, while the percentage of Arun households that owner their home decreased from 79% to 74%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Arun increased by 5.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Arun, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Arun residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.3% to 5.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of Arun residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Arun decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Arun, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Arun working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 10% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Arun decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Arun, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Arun

The number of people in Arun from the White ethnic groups increased from about 140,000 in 2001 to about 150,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Arun from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 840 in 2001 to just over 2,100 in 2011 (from 0.6% to 1.4%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 780 to about 1,500 (from 0.6% to 1.0%).

About 540 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 310 in 2001 (0.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Arun decreased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Arun by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Arun residents that were unemployed increased from 2.2% to 3.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The proportion who said they were employed remained close to 50%, while the percentage of Arun residents that were self-employed increased from 10% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Arun increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Arun, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

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